Image editing in Squarespace
Photos are an important part of most websites. When publishing photos on a Squarespace website, there are several tips you should know to optimize your website for both the user and search engines.
Tips for image use:
Check image size
File format
File name
Image caption
Editing an image
Image archive
1. Image magnification
Images you upload to Squarespace should not be larger than 2500 pixels or approximately 500 KB. If you find that your images are larger than 700-800kb, you can reduce the size for free at TinyPNG - or you can do it in built-in tools on your Mac or PC (Images)
How to check the size of images:
PC - Right-click on the image, then select Properties. Under General you will see the size of the image and under Details you will find pixel information.
Mac - Right-click on the image, then select Show Info . Here you will be given the file size and dimensions (pixels) of the image.
Note: You can also resize photos in Squarespace by clicking on the photo and selecting Edit. However, this only changes the display size - not the file size.
2. File format
By default, use:
JPG → best for photos (smaller file size)
WebP → can and is used, gives smaller files, faster loading time).
PNG → good for graphics, logos and images with transparent backgrounds. But avoid using PNG for photos, as the files are too large.
The file formats .pdf, .psd, .tff and .doc are not compatible.
New in 2026:
Squarespace displays all photos in webp format. This means that when you upload jpg files, Squarespace will convert them to webp in the background and display them. This results in faster websites. You can also upload webp format, but be aware that some older browsers do not read webp.
So that's why jpg is the easiest and safest!
How to convert from png to jpg:
on Mac: Click on the image - left-click on the mouse and choose Quick Actions - Convert Image
On PC: there is no conversion feature included with Windows, but you can download (for free) Quick right image from the Microsoft store . This does exactly the same thing as on Mac.
3. File name
File names are an important element to consider when uploading an image, both for SEO and for the visually impaired. File names should only contain the following: letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens.
Ex: gasta-website-squarespace
4. Alt text on photos
Alt text allows screen readers to explain images to those who cannot see them, and is important for universal design. It also helps search engines understand the content on the page, which can lead to better visibility in Google.
You enter Alt-text by clicking on the photo - Under Content you have a field for Alt-text. Here you should describe the photo with text. Think: what would you say to someone who cannot see the photo? Also consider including keywords in Google. In this window you can also adjust the file name (for SEO).
Click on the photo - and you will get a menu where you can enter alt text.
5. Editing an image
In Squarespace, you can crop, edit, and apply filters to your images after uploading. It couldn't be easier!
6. Image archive - Assets in Squarespace
Once you've added an image to your website, you can easily add it to other areas of your website via Squarespace's image archive (Assets).
To access this feature:
Click on Image to add a new image. Click the + sign and choose Select from library . This will give you access to all images that have been added previously.
Under Assets in the main menu you can get a full overview of all photos - and here you can also upload new photos.
If you want to read more about image usage on Squarespace - check out this video:
